Seventeen transgender members of the U.S. Air Force have filed a federal lawsuit against the government, alleging the military illegally deprived them of early retirement pensions and benefits. The lawsuit, filed Monday, highlights an ongoing legal battle over policies targeting transgender soldiers.
Cancellation of early retirement
The lawsuit comes months after the Air Force confirmed that service members with 15 to 18 years of service will no longer have early retirement options. Instead, they will be separated and will not receive retirement benefits or health insurance benefits. Advocacy groups say the decision could cost some service members up to $2 million over their lifetime.
Michael Haley, Staff Attorney glad’s lawOne group supporting the case said the cancellation was part of a “widespread atrocity against transgender people.” He noted that several plaintiffs have already received orders approving their resignations, and some have begun separation proceedings.
voices from the front lines
Sergeant Major Logan Ireland joined the lawsuit after being denied early retirement after 15 years of service, including a deployment to Afghanistan. “The military taught me to lead and fight, not retreat,” Ireland said. Associated Press. “Taking away my retirement benefits sends a message that those values only apply on the battlefield, not when our service members need them most.”
“These are people who went on with their lives and were given the green light and then had it stripped away,” Haley said.
The Pentagon declined immediate comment, citing its standard policy of not discussing ongoing litigation.
Pattern targeting transgender troops
The lawsuit is the latest challenge to a policy launched under former President Donald Trump aimed at restricting military service for transgender soldiers. In May, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the ban on transgender service members to go into effect while the case progressed.
Officials, including President Trump and former Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, have argued that diversity and inclusion efforts need to be rolled back to make the military more “lethal.” According to Department of Defense data, 4,240 service members have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria, which is used as an indicator of transgender.
The Air Force implemented a policy that went beyond simply separating forces. In addition to revoking retirement benefits, in August it took action to prohibit transgender service members from petitioning their peer committees for the right to continue their military service. The Pentagon expanded the policy to all branches less than two weeks later.
As the case progresses, it highlights the tensions between military policy, civil rights, and the ongoing fight for recognition and equality for transgender service members.
Source: Gayety – gayety.com
